- Bustermfastiatopod and other important stuff.

Well, I figure I should update y'all on the success of my fast. It went well except for all the times I cheated... admittedly I did listen to a bit of TV... and may or may not have sneaked a peek at it from the kitchen while Buttercup was watching something... but I think the point that you should all focus on is that it went well and broke my iPod addiction.
Phew.
In other news, I wrote a short story the other day while sitting on the bus. It's about how I imagined the Dual Purpose Safety Vent as a giant bug who, in the story, is going to drop down into the bus and maul some girl standing right below it and I'm the only one who knows the danger of the 99 B-line Express Bus. I also love my job and Caramel Macchiatos from Blenz, even tho I feel like poo after cuz there's a lot of milk product in them. Blehh.


SWITCHFOOT IS COMING TO VANCOUVER. SO IS FOSTER THE PEOPLE, BRIAN REGAN, AND FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE. And a lot of other cool bands, like Arkells and  stuff, I just can't remember the rest of them. Ticket Master remembers. Ask them (it?).


Wow, I think this is my most pointless post yet. Thanks for reading all the way through.

This is a new word I learned today because I saw a sign that said "Termster Society Vancouver" or something like that and looked it up on my smartphone.

1.	Termster	1 thumb up
	A person who hears or learns of a popular new term and completely overuses it to the point where it loses its trendy cult status and forms it into a bloated mainstream monster of a word.

If you read this all the way through in sequence, you now know how my brain really works, not like that properly organized crap I usually post.

I like Skrillex.

ROD IS A LIP LOAN JURA. (Unscramble that to find out who actually wrote this.

- The Pretty Industry

Being a hairstylist, I work in the beauty industry, right? WRONG. I work in the pretty industry. Allow me to explain...

beauty - inside -> beauty industry is your youth group, young adults group, worship team, Bible reading at night, hanging out with your brother, talking to your dad

pretty - outside -> pretty industry is your new shoes, great makeup techniques, hair color/cut changes, cute top and favourite jeans

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

The pretty industry is a wonderful thing, and I'm not here to knock it, but I do want to make sure we don't go ahead and confuse being pretty with being beautiful. Allow me to help you out with this concept. The pretty industry helps you look "better." This is where we'll find our makeup and skin care products and hairspray and backcombing brushes and flattering dresses and whatever else you perceive to help you look your best. The beauty industry, however helps you be better. This is where you find loving friends, prayer, churches, hard work, kindness, and love for others.

You can have one without the other. Just because someone doesn't fit in to your ideal "look," doesn't mean you can't respect them. Or maybe you don't fit into your own ideal "look." Respect yourself and realize that your worth isn't summed up by how perfect your outward appearance is. The flip side is also true. If your outside looks great but your inside is about as appealing as a garbage dump, you need to check yourself. Pronto.


Oh, and one more tip:
Have confidence, I hear it's sexy.

April J

Quick! Fast!! How iPods are ruining our lives

MULTIMEDIA IS TAKING OVER MY SUBCONSCIOUSNESS!!!

I realized this when I was trying to pray last night, but couldn't overpower the voice of Michael Scott and the song, "Cellophane" enough to focus on talking to God. ANYONE HEAR ME ON THIS?!

Sometimes it seems our generation's ability to hear and talk to God effectively and consistently is about as acute as the hearing of a 90 year old who left their hearing aids at home.

SAY WHAT??????

So for a week, (meaning Sunday to Sunday) I am going to shut off my iPod and my TV and have a go of being productive and sociable during transit times and time at home. Now, that's not to say that I'll never listen to music during that week - I'm sure I'll hear music here and there..like I obviously can't say,
"Hey, boss, can you shut off the music at work for a week so I can clear my mind a bit?"
not to mention the neighbours above me who REALLY like to "play" the electric guitar at around 11pm every Sunday night... out of patience and Christian love I will allow them to continue that tradition... ehem.

So, the rules for my fast are this:
-No TV ever.
-No iPod shoved in my ears blocking out the world.

Agh, I'm already considering erasing this entire post and scrapping the whole idea. I better publish it before I have a chance to make like I never thought about this. I could always just pretend I didn't hear God clearly enough, right? Err.... what?


April J

P.s. I just had a really depressing thought: The only reason that multimedia is flooding my brainwaves is because I turn it out and partake.
Good thing none of this is my fault...

- Pretty on the Outside

You know, if I ever write a book, I think that's what I'll call it: "Pretty on the Outside." Our culture is wrought with meaningless quotes and phrases, air headed girls, fake profiles, and men with no substance.

It's OK though, 'cuz at least we look good.

Being in the "beauty" industry, I struggle with this one a lot. It's up to me to focus purely on the outward appearance of people and "improve" on the perceived "flaws." Well this business of coloring hair and shopping for new clothes and doing various other shallow things is all well and good in moderation, but I would like to issue a quick wake-up call to all .those people who think they're going to get by either on wearing Gucci or Toms or shampooing with Paul Mitchel Awapuhi or having a hot body. Insecure people, listen up too.

Newsflash: the outside doesn't really matter!


Ladies, gents, I'm going to tell you what I tell to my younger sisters: If you're going to be pretty on the outside, you'd better be even prettier on the inside, because otherwise it's all useless. 

Guys, what goes on in your mind and your heart on a daily basis? Is it pretty or is it ugly? Do you think about your family positively, pray for favor over your friends, thank the Lord that you're alive?? Or are you pining for the next episode of Jersey Shore (which is such a corrupt show, by the way) or praying you don't bump into your dad on the way in the door? What would happen if God went ahead and measured your integrity levels lately? In Psalm 26:1-6, David writes, "Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross -examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with  the wicked. I wash my hands to declare my innocence."

Could you say the same thing? Could you say to Jesus, "Hey, man, can you let me through the gates? I did everything within my physical, mental, and emotional power to stay clean by your standards and stay blameless. I have integrity."?  Titus 2:7-8 says, "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."
1 Corinthians 6 talks about all sorts of "wicked" people who will not inherit the kingdom of God (aka heaven). It talks about the sexually immoral, idol worshipers, adulterers, etc, but never once does it say, "He who does not wear American Eagle and has too much acne cannot come to heaven."

1 Peter 3:3, "your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes."

Need I say more?

Spend more time fixing your insides, guys, and quit worrying about the outside so much. Eventually we'll all have no teeth, saggy butts and droopy eyelids anyways.

Be pretty on the outside, but be prettier on the inside. That's the spot that matters.


April J

For more info on honesty and integrity: Fake 'n' Bake - Let's get REAL
For more info on security/insecurity issues: Camp Confident - I am Dauntless
For more info on having a better outlook: Change that 'tude, dude!